Late Night: The Three Stooges

Via Digby, all three Bush men, George I, GW and Jeb got on the phone today to call Rush Limbaugh and congratulate him on the 20th anniversary of his show and his "excellent and important broadcasting." The transcript is here. At one point, Bush I, who didn't realize they were on the air, says to Rush,

nonstop coverage of the Casey Anthony investigation and a couple thoughts occurred to me: Casey is super-pretty, her missing daughter is absurdly cute, and this is why this case is getting so much scrutiny. Look at the essentials: Missing girl. #1 suspect is lying. This is nothing remarkable, sadly. Now a remarkable case is the "Rockefeller" mystery! Wow!

missing since June 9 and the young mother never told anyone because according to her, the babysitter stole her and was threatening her. The police can't find any babysitter. This is a nice looking middle class family...perfect story for cable TV.

(You can tell I saw Greta V's show...she had an interview with Brett Favre and I couldn't help but watch the story about that little girl. It's a strange strange story.)

(Just kidding . . . sort of. Seriously, people, try not to talk like my mom. Especially on nationally-syndicated radio. It doesn't mean you're gay--just lame. Which in all fairness are two different things, and I shouldn't conflate the two. South Park made me do it. I take no responsibility.)

Sonia Morphew Pitt was the person in charge of emergency response for the Minnesota Department of
Transportation when the Interstate 35W Bridge collapsed on August 1, 2007, killing 13 people and seriously injuring another 25. At the time, she was married with kids back here, but was in DC pursuing her affair with Daniel Ferezan, a federal employee. Despite the urgency of the situation back home, she stayed in DC for another ten days - on the taxpayer's dime, but with no other reason for being in DC.

It took awhile, but she got canned for abuse of office, and still faces both civil and criminal liability.

Believe it or not, within 8 days of getting fired from her Minnesota job, she was hired by Homeland Security's Transportation Service Administration - at higher pay.

Daniel M. Ferezan, the Federal Highway Administration's program manager for
transportation security, was the person on the other end of Ms. Pitt's 94 hours
of personal calls from her MnDOT-supplied cellphone. He took those calls during
his working hours - on the taxpayer's dime, just like Ms. Pitt. Mr. Ferezan
still has his job.

Mr. Ferezan has serious clout. He would be good to know. You can call him at 202-366-0507.
Maybe he will tell you how he does it.

Meanwhile, Paul McEnroe and Tony Kennedy, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters on this story, would dearly love to know more about Mr. Ferezan. He won't talk to them, and the newspaper's precarious financial straits won't allow serious journalism. Is there any chance you and your readers could help? Paul and Tony can be reached at pmcenroe@startribune.com and tkennedy@startribune.com

Congressional Republicans were protesting Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling yesterday, by staying on the floor and speaking after Pelosi adjourned the House for a 5 week recess. The light were shut off, the mikes killed, but they stayed there and talked. It wouldn't have been a big deal, because C-Span's cameras were shut off, and very few people were there, but tourists were then allowed to come in and reporters were still there trying to cover the speeches, while trying not to get kicked out.

"Right at the stroke of five Georgia Rep. Tom Price announced that House Republicans were ending their impromptu protest on the floor of the chamber, ending a five-plus hour rebellion with a round of "God Bless America."

The assembled tourists, aides and members in the chamber gave Price and his compatriots a standing ovation. They left the chamber to shouts of "USA! USA! USA!"

It doesn't matter if you agree with offshore drilling or not, if this little story makes into the MSM, the highlight and spin of the message would be that the Dems voted to break for 5 weeks instead of discussing gas prices.